There’s a climate change protest happening in London today. A group called Extinction Rebellion blocked the streets at Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus. They also shut down Waterloo Bridge:

#ExtinctionRebellion #ER on Piccadilly Circus pic.twitter.com/lq2e9WWSp2

— Jay Peper (@jason_peper) April 15, 2019

#XRyouth are occupying Piccadilly Circus and we're here to stay! #InternationalRebellion

We have music, dancing, and plenty of paint! Come join us and help #PaintPiccadilly! pic.twitter.com/kDUGHjPuTz

— Extinction Rebellion Youth (@XrYouth) April 15, 2019

Way to go #ExtinctionRebellion, blocking Piccadilly Circus this afternoon pic.twitter.com/Isp86T49o0

— James Flint (@JamesFlint) April 15, 2019

https://twitter.com/WillMulan/status/1117783216088342532

There’s an undercurrent of anti-consumerism/anti-capitalism to this protest:

Piccadilly Circus is totally Rocking! We need to listen to the young people here; not the advertising hoardings! pic.twitter.com/gTWiTVVLcl

— Extinction Rebellion (@ExtinctionR) April 15, 2019

Just up the road at Oxford Circus, protesters set up a pink sailboat:

Extinction rebels have just taken over Oxford Circus with a pink boat that says "TELL THE TRUTH". They plan to block the junction for two weeks – buses already on diversion #ExtinctionRebellion pic.twitter.com/BzcoZMGfZz

— James Cracknell (@JollyJourno) April 15, 2019

#ExtinctionRebellion are now having a party in Oxford Circus – with free vegan food and a boat urging the government to ‘tell the truth.’ pic.twitter.com/T1wLn3VkFF

— Georgie Prodromou (@GeorgieProRadio) April 15, 2019

Protesters also shut down Waterloo Bridge, though it doesn’t appear to be all that many people:

https://twitter.com/TfLTrafficNews/status/1117721340214161408

Group of about 30 climate change protestors have blocked off entrance to Waterloo Bridge, London. pic.twitter.com/OGVGDeUgIP

— Sarah Walton (@SarahWaltonNews) April 15, 2019

Protesters have lined Waterloo Bridge with trees, plants, shrubbery and hanging baskets.@rachaelvenables | https://t.co/Uw0Er1oGeJ pic.twitter.com/vGlCSL5rMU

— LBC (@LBC) April 15, 2019

One of the things this group of activists are rebelling against is fossil fuels. They broke windows and dumped paint at the headquarters of Shell. From the Telegraph:

Police were called to the Shell Centre, near Waterloo station, to reports of a disturbance after the building’s revolving doors were shattered and graffiti was daubed on to the building.

Scotland Yard confirmed three men were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

Messages such as “Shell kills” were sprayed on to the property, while a female climate change activist glued herself to the door of the building.

Here’s what the damage looked like:

An Extinction Rebellion protester stands on the glass roof of Shell's London headquarters during today's demonstration on climate change #ExtinctionRebellion pic.twitter.com/lblCwY7zgW

— Cover Images (@cover_images) April 15, 2019

Climate change protesters smash glass and plaster Shell HQ with paint as they bring London to a standstill https://t.co/tlFul2aa3E pic.twitter.com/46Ra51DxJz

— SimpleNews.co.uk (@Simplenewsuk) April 15, 2019

XR Activists continue to cause criminal damage at @shell building in London to make them "look dirty" and highlight their ecocidal practices. At least 4 arrested, 2 glued on to cracked windows. #shellknew #internationalrebellion #ExtinctionRebellion pic.twitter.com/YSYLWUNB5Z

— Extinction Rebellion (@ExtinctionR) April 15, 2019

Here’s one of the extremists defending criminal behavior:

“Do you think smashing up windows is the right course of action?” This woman has glued her hand to the door of Shell’s London HQ – police officer approached her mid interview. @ExtinctionR still on site here in Waterloo. pic.twitter.com/USTHTS7Z4V

— Sarah Hajibagheri (@SaraHajibagheri) April 15, 2019

The two protesters – including Simon Bramwell of Extinction Rebellion – who superglued themselves to the doors of Shell Centre in London are taken away by police. #ExtinctionRebellion pic.twitter.com/lWB61eiKeq

— Andrew RC Marshall (@Journotopia) April 15, 2019

Similar protests are happening in a few other places today, including Berlin:

So sah die #ExtinctionRebelion-Besetzung der Oberbaumbrücke aus #XRBerlin pic.twitter.com/uPMXw5wSMe

— rbb|24 (@rbb24) April 15, 2019

By blocking streets and breaking things, the activists are certainly amplifying their message. Earlier this month the same group held a nude protest inside Parliament. Grabbing headlines and media attention is the goal. But it doesn’t appear to be a very large of a group of people involved. The Independent reports there were 2,000 people committed to participate. Even the organizers aren’t claiming huge numbers:

1500 people at Parliament Square for day 1 or #InternationalRebellionWeek. We are demanding governments #StopTheEcocide. Come join us: https://t.co/PzxBohj9iu pic.twitter.com/qz9RKjAtL8

— Extinction Rebellion (@ExtinctionR) April 15, 2019

They’ll proclaim this a success (every far-left protest is a success) but in a city of 8 million people, they represent a fairly small fringe.